Buying Reduced Food: How Yellow Stickers Help Keep Our Food Costs Down

Buying reduced food has been one of the simplest ways I’ve managed to keep our food costs down, especially when feeding a big family. I always check the yellow sticker section first, and I honestly can’t remember the last time I paid full price for a loaf of bread. At this point, full-price bread feels like a luxury item I no longer recognise.

Bread is an easy win because it freezes so well. If I know I’ve got space in the freezer, I’ll often pick up a couple of extra loaves and put them straight in when I get home. It means fewer trips to the shop later in the week and one less thing to panic about at 7am when everyone suddenly wants toast at the same time.

The reduced section often shapes what we eat that week, and I’ve learned to be flexible with it. Instead of sticking rigidly to a meal plan, I build meals around what I’ve managed to get cheaply. Sometimes that means dinner changes slightly, but it also means the food shop costs less and I’m not throwing food away — which feels like a win on multiple levels.

Items I look for when buying reduced food

Over time, I’ve learned there are certain things that are almost always worth picking up if they’re reduced. Bread and bakery items are top of the list because they freeze easily and get used quickly. Meat is another big one, especially chicken, mince, or sausages that can be frozen the same day and turned into meals I know my family will actually eat.

I’ll also grab fruit and vegetables if they’re still in good condition and likely to be used straight away, along with chilled items like cheese or yoghurt that clearly have plenty of life left in them. I’ve learned the hard way not to buy something just because it’s cheap — saving money stops being saving money if it lives at the back of the fridge until it becomes a science experiment.

What freezes well in our house

Freezer space makes a huge difference when it comes to saving money, and knowing what freezes well takes the stress out of buying extras. Bread, rolls, wraps, and bakery items freeze without any drama. Meat freezes well too, as long as I remember to put it in the freezer straight away and not leave it on the side while I get distracted by something else (which absolutely happens).

Cooked meals and leftovers are another freezer favourite. Pasta bakes, curries, soups, and stews all freeze beautifully and are a lifesaver on days when cooking feels like too much effort. Even grated cheese freezes well, which has saved me more times than I’d like to admit when I’ve realised we’re running low mid-meal.

Having freezer space gives me confidence when shopping and helps cut down on last-minute trips to the shop — the kind that somehow cost far more than planned. It also makes food planning feel more flexible and less stressful, which honestly matters just as much as the money saved.

Buying reduced food isn’t about cutting corners or settling for less. It’s about being practical, adaptable, and making small choices that add up over time. For our family, yellow sticker items have helped us waste less, spend less, and feel more in control of the food budget — and that sense of control is priceless.

If you’re trying to stretch your food shop and don’t know where to start, the reduced section is a realistic place to begin. No complicated systems, no pressure to do it perfectly — just one small habit that can make everyday life a little easier.

When yellow sticker shopping works best

Timing makes a difference, and it’s something I’ve learned through trial and error. In places like Asda, Tesco, and Lidl I’ve found that reductions tend to happen later in the day, especially on fresh items like bread, meat, and chilled food. Early reductions often start mid to late afternoon, but the bigger discounts usually appear in the evening, particularly on items with that day’s use-by date.

If I can, I’ll pop in on the way home from work. Some days there’s nothing worth buying, but when the timing works, it can make a noticeable difference to the food shop.